Quick lock kettlebell handle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new handle for adapting kettlebell weights and for new modes of lifting weights.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Continuation-in-part of United States pending patent application Ser.No. 13/232,973 dated Sep. 14, 2010 and claiming priority to UnitedStates provisional application No. 61/382,691 dated Sep. 14, 2010 thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to exercise devices and methods of usethereof. In particular, the invention relates to a handle for convertingstandard weights into kettlebell weights.

Mixed martial arts have become very popular and have ushered in a newwave of work out routines that are taken from the past. Today martialartists use historical but proven techniques to improve strength andperformance. A wide variety of weight training techniques are known,including the fixed or variable weight type of exercise machines, castdumbbells, and the free weight/bar combination. However, owning a usefulset of weights with the weights available in various sizes can beprohibitively expensive.

There are a couple of basic forms of dumbbells and most have a fixedweight. Fixed weight dumbbells are ubiquitous in today's gyms. However,kettlebells have a generally asymmetric weight that challenges musclesuniquely and therefore generally are only available in limited orspecialized training facilities. Various adjustable dumbbells have beendeveloped. Representative examples include, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,123;4,556,690; 4,913,422; 4,900,016; 4,880,229; 4,743,017; and 4,529,198.Each of these references, however, addresses only certain aspects of anadjustable dumbbell, such as releaseability, interlocking of theweights, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a releasable handle that adapts any commerciallyavailable dumbbell into a kettlebell.

Additionally, the handle can be adapted to rotate about an axis thatallows the user to shift the center of mass to create unique weightlifting pathways to target muscles in unique ways.

Additionally, the invention provides a method of exercise comprising theuse of the kettlebell invention.

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, it is the object of thisinvention to provide a quickly releasable handle that can mount anddetach from commercially available dumbbells. It is also desirable tohave the handle adjust to various orientations about the dumbbell tocreate different centers of mass to challenge the weight lifter andaccommodate different ranges of motion than would otherwise be possiblewith a fixed dumbbell.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reading and consideration of the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded line view of a preferred embodiment with thehandle and locking mechanism separated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective line view of a preferred embodiment with thehandle and locking mechanism in the locked position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded surface view of a preferred embodiment with thehandle and locking mechanism separated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in thelocked position with a dumbbell.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 7 is a perspective front side view of a solid work preferredembodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a solid work preferred embodimentin the locked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 9 is a perspective oblique view of a solid work preferredembodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a solid work preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 11 is an exploded line view of the back-side of a preferredembodiment with the handle, upper body and cam locking mechanismseparated.

FIG. 12 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 13 is a perspective front side view of a preferred embodiment inthe locked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 14 is a perspective back side view of a preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment with the handleand upper body separated.

FIG. 16 is a perspective back side view of a preferred embodiment in thelocked position without a dumbbell.

FIG. 17 is a perspective front side view of a preferred embodiment inthe locked position without a dumbbell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not forpurposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows an exploded line drawing ofa preferred embodiment. There are four main components comprising ahandle 10, an upper body 20, a lower body 30, and a bottom cap 40. Thehandle 10 has a handle portion 11 comprising a loop structure thatattaches to the handle body 12 in two locations (though differentdesigns could comprise more or fewer attachment points). The handle body12 further comprises a handle body receiver 13 which is designed to matewith a threaded top cap 51 at a threaded top cap projection 52. Thethreaded top cap projection 52 is cylindrical and projects down into thehandle body receiver 13 which has a slightly larger diameter so that thethreaded top cap 51 can freely turn. The threaded top projection 52 aidsalignment and stability of the attachment of the handle 10 to the upperbody 20. The surface of the threaded top cap 51 serves as a grippingpoint for the user's hand to tighten and fix the position of the handle10 or loosen the handle 10 and allow free rotation to the desiredorientation.

The handle body 12 further comprises handle body grooves 14 that radiatefrom the center axis of the handle 10. The handle body grooves 14interdigitate with upper body ridges 24 to lock the orientation of thehandle 10 relative to the dumbbell (not shown). In the preferredembodiment the handle 10 has eight handle body grooves 14 that allow thehandle 10 to rotate at forty-five degree increments relative to thedumbbell. When the threaded top cap 51 is loosened it releases thefrictional grip between the handle body grooves 14 and the upper bodyridges 24 allowing freedom of rotation between the handle 10 and upperbody 20. Alternative embodiments could utilize a greater number ofhandle body grooves 14 to increase the number of potentialconfigurations. In a further embodiment the handle body bottom surface15 could have various concave shaped modifications that could receivecomplementary convex shaped modifications on the upper body top surface25. For example, a golf ball like handle body bottom surface 15 couldmatch contact with the upper body top surface 25 in almost anyorientation along the handle 10 axis. The handle 10 is fixed inorientation relative to the upper body 20 via the upper body threadedconnector 21 which passes through the handle body central axis 16 andwasher 17 (optional) and into the threaded top cap receiver 56.

The upper body 20 and lower body 30 mate together at the proximal upperbody surface 22 and proximal lower body surface 32 and the distal upperbody surface 23 and the distal lower body 33 mate, respectively, in theclosed position. The proximal and distal surfaces define a passage 81 toreceive a dumbbell (not shown). The upper body 20 and lower body 30 areconnected at the proximal face by a quick release 60 that comprises aquick release body 61 and a quick release head 62. The upper body 20 andlower body 30 are connected at the distal face of the upper body by asliding plate 65. The sliding plate 65 has a upper mount hole 66 and alower mount hole 67 that accommodate an upper pin 68 and a lower pin 69.The upper pin 68 flexibly mounts the sliding plate 65 to the upper body20 at upper body mounts 28 and the lower bolt 69 flexibly mounts slidingplate 65 to the lower body 30. The upper pin 68 flexibly mounts thesliding plate 65 to the upper body 20 at upper body mounts 28 and thelower pin 69 flexibly mounts sliding plate 65 to the lower body 30 atthe lower body mounts 38. When the quick release 60 is in the unlockedand open position, the upper body 20 and lower body 30 may pivotrelative to one another to form a c-shape and expose the dumbbellmounting surface 37. In an alternative embodiment, either the upper body20 could have modified upper body mounts 28 that are shaped likeparallel tracks instead of simple circles adapted for receiving theupper pin 68 that would allow the upper pin 68 to keep the sliding plate65 attached to the upper body 20 but allow freedom of movement along thevertical axis. This could make opening and accessing the dumbbellmounting surface easier than a simple pivot. Additionally, the slidingplate 65 could accommodate larger dumbbell handles in the dumbbellmounting surface 37 if it could move along the vertical axis. Thealternative embodiment should not be construed to limit the modificationof the upper body mounts 28 as the sole method of achieving a variablesized dumbbell mounting surface 37. It would be similarly possible tomodify the lower body mounts 38 to allow freedom of movement or tomodify both the upper and lower body mounts 28,38.

The quick release 60 is comprised of a quick release body 61, a head 62,a threaded end 63, a head mount hole 64, and a head mount pin 74 that isattached to the upper body 20 at the upper body head mounts 29. The headmount pin 74 passes through one side of the upper body head mount 29then through the head 62 and in to the other side of the upper body headmount 29. The quick release body 61 can pivot away from the lower body30 in the unlocked and open position while remaining attached to theupper body 20 via the head 62. The quick release body 61 can remainflush against the upper body 20 and lower body 30, but in the preferredembodiment, the upper body 20 has a quick release head receiver 72 withupper body mounts 29 on either side adapted to receive the head 62 andhead mount pin 74. The upper body 20 may be further adapted to have agrove to adjust the angle of the quick release body 61 relative to thelower body 20 in the closed position. The quick release body 61 isparallel to the vertical axis when the quick release body 61 is in theclosed position. To lock the quick release body 61 in the closedposition, the threaded end 63 is inserted into a bottom cap 40 at thebottom cap quick release hole 41. The threaded end 63 of the quickrelease body 61 is further locked in place with a wingnut 42.

The bottom cap 40 can be adapted to have a flat bottom surface 43 to seton the floor. In a preferred embodiment the bottom cap 40 can have a lowprofile so that a dumbbell will set on the floor and the bottom cap 40will be suspended over the floor. The bottom cap proximal surface can besloped in a preferred embodiment to accept the quick release body 61with a sliding plate 65 mounted at upper body mounts 28 and lower bodymounts 38 wherein the upper body 20 and lower body 30 pivot at fixed afixed distance. The lower body bottom surface 39 could be tapered tohave a complementary surface to the bottom cap top surface 45. Thebottom cap 40 may have a recess in the bottom surface 43 to recess thewingnut 42 so that the wingnut 42 cannot catch on clothing or othermaterials during use.

When the quick release body 61 is in the open position the upper body 20and lower body 30 are free to open and receive a dumbbell 80. Thedumbbell mounting surface 37 is disclosed as a smooth surface, butalternative embodiments could be designed to accommodate commerciallyavailable dumbbells. Additional features could include surfacemodification to increase texture to improve grip so that the dumbbell 80will not slip or move once the quick release body 61 is in the closedand locked position.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment in the closed and locked position.FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment in an exploded solid state.The handle 10, upper body 20, the lower body 30 and bottom cap 40 areconstructed of machined metal. However, it may be possible to producehandle 10, upper body 20, the lower body 30 or bottom cap 40 with diecast metal. Alternatively, parts may be made of high strength polymersto reduce weight and cost. FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment in aclosed and locked position. Additionally, the quick release body 61 isrecessed into both the upper body 20 and lower body 30, with only thethreaded end 63 visible and protruding through the bottom cap 40. Thethreaded end 63 is locked in place by a wingnut 42.

FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment in a closed and locked position witha dumbbell 80. The quick release body 61 is recessed in the upper body20 and lower body 30.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment with the quick release body 61locked in place with wingnut 42 and a dumbbell 80 locked in place.

FIGS. 7-10 show drawings of an alternative embodiment that does notrequire an end cap 40 to lock the dumbbell (not shown) into place. Thereare three main components comprising a handle 110, an upper body 120,and a lower body 130. The handle 110 has a handle portion 111 comprisinga loop structure that attaches to the handle body 112 in two locations,though different designs could comprise more or fewer attachment points.The handle body 112 further comprises a handle body receiver 113 whichis designed to mate with a threaded top cap 151 at a threaded top capprojection 152. The threaded top cap projection 152 is cylindrical andprojects down into the handle body receiver 113 which has a slightlylarger diameter so that the threaded top cap 151 can freely turn. Thehandle body 112 further comprises handle body grooves 114 that radiatefrom the center axis of the handle body 112. The handle body grooves 114interdigitate with upper body ridges 124 to lock the orientation of thehandle 110 relative to the dumbbell (not shown). In the preferredembodiment the handle 110 has eight handle body grooves 114 that allowthe handle 110 to rotate at forty-five degree increments relative to thedumbbell 80. Alternative embodiments could utilize a greater number ofhandle body grooves 114 to increase the number of potentialconfigurations. In a further embodiment the handle body bottom surfacecould have various concave shaped modifications that could receivecomplementary convex shaped modifications on the upper body top surface.For example, a golf ball like handle body bottom surface could matchcontact with the upper body top surface in almost any orientation alongthe handle 110 axis. The handle 110 is fixed in orientation relative tothe upper body 120 via a threaded connector 121 that is permanentlyfixed in the upper body 120. The threaded connector 121 passes through aspring 191 and the handle body central axis and into the threaded topcap receiver. When the threaded top cap 151 is tightened down itcompresses the spring 191 and forces the handle 110 to lock into place.

The upper body 120 and lower body 130 are connected at the proximal faceby a quick release mechanism that comprises a quick release body 192, aproximal mounting pin 196 disposed in the upper body 120, a spacerwasher 193, and a release knob 194. The quick release mechanismdetermines whether the upper body 120 and lower body 130 are in a lockedclosed position or in an unlocked open position. The upper body 120 andlower body 130 are permanently connected at a distal mount comprising adistal mounting pin 195 that passes through two upper body mountingholes 199 disposed in a distal portion of the upper body 120 and lowerbody mounting hole 198 disposed in the distal portion of the lower body130. The distal mount allows the upper body 120 and lower body 130 toopen and receive a dumbbell when the quick release mechanism is in anunlocked position. The upper body 120 has a proximal mounting pin hole200 that receives a proximal mounting pin 196. The mounting pin 196further passes through a proximal mount pin hole 197 disposed in a topportion of the quick release body 192.

When the release knob 194 is untightened, the quick release body 192 canpivot away from the lower body 130, allowing the lower body to rotateabout the distal mounting pin 195 into an open position to receive adumbbell. To close the quick release, the quick release body 192 ispivoted back towards the lower body 130 it will contact a proximalgroove in the lower body 130, and the release knob 194 is tightenedagain to achieve the closed position with a dumbbell attached. The quickrelease body 192 has a lower portion that is threaded and passes throughthe spacer washer 193 into the release knob 194. The release knob 194 isthreaded and when twisted pushes the spacer washer 193 against thelocking seat 183 disposed in the proximal groove of the lower body 130.The quick release body 192 is completely tightened when spacer washer193 is pressed tightly against the locking seat 183, the lockedposition.

The dumbbell mounting surface is disclosed as a smooth surface, butalternative embodiments could be designed to accommodate commerciallyavailable dumbbells. Additional features could include surfacemodification to increase texture to improve grip so that the dumbbell 80will not slip or move once the quick release body 192 is in the closedand locked position.

FIGS. 11-17 show drawings of an alternative embodiment that does notrequire a threaded release knob or an end cap to lock a dumbbell intoplace. FIG. 11 shows an exploded line view of the handle and lockingmechanism. There are three main components comprising a handle 100, anupper body 200 and a lower body 300. The handle 100 has a handle portion101 comprising a loop structure or contour multi grip handle thatattaches to the handle body 102 in two locations (though differentdesigns could comprise more or fewer attachment points.

The handle body 102 further comprises a handle body receiver 103 whichis designed to accommodate a threaded top cap 104 at a threaded top capprojection 105. The threaded top cap projection 105 is cylindrical andprojects down into the handle body receiver 103 which has a slightlylarger diameter so that the threaded top cap 104 can freely turn. Thehandle body 102 further comprises handle body grooves 106 that radiatefrom the center axis of the handle body 102. The handle body grooves 106interdigitate with upper body ridges 201 to lock the orientation of thehandle 100 relative to the dumbbell (not shown). In the preferredembodiment the handle 100 has eight handle body grooves 106 that allowthe handle 100 to rotate at forty-five degree increments relative to thedumbbell. Alternative embodiments could utilize a greater number ofhandle body grooves 106 to increase the number of potentialconfigurations. In a further embodiment the handle body bottom surfacecould have various concave shaped modifications that could receivecomplementary convex shaped modifications on the upper body top surface.The handle 100 is fixed in orientation relative to the upper body 200via a threaded connector 107 that is permanently fixed in the upper body102 and which screws into the threaded connector port 202 of the upperbody. The threaded connector 107 passes through a spring 108 and thecentral axis of the handle body 102 and into the threaded top capprojection 105. When the threaded top cap 104 is tightened down itcompresses the spring 108 and forces the handle 100 to lock into place.When the threaded top cap 104 is not fully tightened down upon thethreaded connector 107 the handle 100 and the upper body 200 can rotatefreely relative to one another about the axis of the threaded connector107.

The upper body 200 and lower body 300 are connected by a cam-lock quickrelease mechanism that comprises a cam-lock receiver 301, and a cam-locklatch 302. The cam-lock receiver 301 is permanently attached to theupper body 200 by a distal mounting pin 303 which passes through distalmounting holes in both the upper body 304 and in the cam-lock receiver305. The cam lock receiver 301 is free to rotate about the axis of thedistal mounting pin 303. When the cam lock receiver 301 rotates down andaway from the upper body 200 it reaches the open, unlocked position andwhen it 301 rotates upwards and towards the proximal face of the upperbody 200 it reaches the open, and lockable position. Between the upperbody 200 and the cam-lock receiver 301 are plastic or rubber bar gripinserts 306 to prevent slippage of the bar while in the cam-lockmechanism.

The cam-lock latch 302 is detachably connected to the upper body 200 bya proximal cam-lock latch mount hole 307 and a proximal cam-lock latchpin 308. The cam-lock latch pin 308 passes through one side of theproximal cam-lock latch mount hole 307 and then through a femalethreaded adjustment sleeve 309, which is also disposed with a hole toaccommodate the proximal cam-lock latch pin 308. The male threadedadjustment connection 310 screws detachably into the female threadedadjustment sleeve 309. The male threaded adjustment connection 310 isattached to the proximal face of the upper body 200 by a male adjustmentconnection hinge pin 311 which passes through a mounting hole 312 in themale threaded adjustment connection 310.

The cam-lock latch 302 and the female threaded adjustment sleeve 309 canbe rotated around the male threaded adjustment connection 310 and thisincreases or decreases the distance that the cam-lock latch 302 is fromthe upper body 200 . By rotating the cam-lock latch 302 about the axisformed between the female threaded adjustment sleeve 309 and the malethreaded adjustment connection 310 the distance between the upper body200 and the cam-lock latch 302 can be increased (loosening the lock) ordecreased (tightening the lock) thereby allowing the device to betightened around a barbell, and around barbells of various sizes notshown.

When the cam-lock latch 302 is opened, it pivots around the axis of theproximal cam- lock latch pin 308, downwards and away from the lower body300 into the unlocked and open position. This allows the cam-lockreceiver 301 to pivot around the axis of the distal mounting pin 303downwards and away from the upper body in the opposite direction,towards the distal face of the upper body 200, and this is the openposition that is free to receive a dumbbell. When the dumbbell bar isinserted into the upper body the cam-lock receiver 301 is then rotatedto the closed position, and then the cam-lock latch is rotated to theclosed position in order to grip the dumbbell tightly.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment in a closed andlocked position with the cam-lock receiver rotated closed towards theproximal face and the cam-lock rotated closed towards the distal face.FIG. 13 shows a view of the proximal face of a preferred embodimentwhere both the cam-lock receiver and cam-lock latch are in the closedposition and where the male threaded adjustment connection 310 isscrewed into the female threaded adjustment sleeve 309. FIG. 14. shows aview of the distal face of a preferred embodiment in the closed andlocked position. FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of the upper body 200and handle 100 where the threaded connector 107 can be screwed into thethreaded connector port 202 in the center of the upper body 200, and ispassed inside of a spring 108 up through the central of the handle base102 where it is received by the threaded top cap projection 105. FIGS.16 and 17 further show perspective views of a preferred embodiment in aclosed and locked position.

Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention mayalso be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the particularcombination of parts described and illustrated herein are intended torepresent only one embodiment of the invention, and is not intended toserve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. An adjustable kettlebell handle comprising a handleportion, an upper body, a lower body, and a quick release lockingmechanism, the handle and upper body having complementary surfaces toenable rotation and locking of the handle relative to the dumbbell atnumerous positions, and where the quick release locking mechanism cantightly hold a dumbbell without slippage or other movement and isrecessed into the body of the handle in the locked position.
 2. Theadjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1 wherein the handle is attachedto the upper body at one point.
 3. The adjustable kettlebell handle ofclaim 1 wherein the handle is attached to the upper body at two points.4. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1 wherein the handle isattached to the upper body at more than two points.
 5. The adjustablekettlebell handle of claim 1 wherein the handle is disposed with atriangular shape.
 6. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1 whereinthe handle is disposed with a parabolic shape.
 7. The adjustablekettlebell handle of claim 1 wherein the handle is disposed with aninverse parabolic shape.
 8. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1wherein the handle and upper body rotate and lock relative to oneanother using ridges and valleys.
 9. The adjustable kettlebell handle ofclaim 1 wherein the handle and upper body rotate and lock relative toone another using complementary concave and convex curved surfaces. 10.The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1 wherein the handle and upperbody rotate and lock relative to one another using complementary balland socket surfaces.
 11. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1wherein the quick release locking mechanism may be comprised of atightening nut and base plate where the nut may be either below the baseplate or above it.
 12. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 1wherein the quick release locking mechanism may be comprised of atightening nut and a hinged latch where the nut may be either below thehinged latch or above it.
 13. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim1 wherein the quick release locking mechanism may be comprised of acam-lock mechanism employing two hinged latches where the outer latchmay be tightened around the inner latch.
 14. An adjustable kettlebellhandle comprising a handle portion, an upper body, a lower body, and aquick release locking mechanism, the handle and upper body havingcomplementary surfaces to enable rotation and locking of the handlerelative to the dumbbell at numerous positions, and where the quickrelease locking mechanism can tightly hold a dumbbell using a bar gripwithout slippage or other movement and is recessed into the body of thehandle in the locked position.
 15. The adjustable kettlebell handle ofclaim 14 wherein the bar grip inserts may be smooth and may be tightenedaround dumbbells, barbells or pull-up bars of various sizes.
 16. Theadjustable kettlebell handle of claim 14 wherein the bar grip insertsmay be rough and may be tightened around dumbbells, barbells or pull-upbars of various sizes.
 17. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 14wherein the bar grip inserts may be made from plastic and may betightened around dumbbells, barbells or pull-up bars of various sizes.18. The adjustable kettlebell handle of claim 14 wherein the bar gripinserts may be made from rubber and may be tightened around dumbbells,barbells or pull-up bars of various sizes.
 19. A method of using anadjustable kettlebell handle comprising releasing the quick releaselocking mechanism, inserting a dumbbell into the quick release lockingmechanism, locking the quick release locking mechanism around thedumbbell, adjusting the orientation of the of handle and upper body inrelation to the lower body and dumbbell, lifting the kettlebell handleand dumbbell in an exercise motion.
 20. A method of making an adjustablekettlebell handle comprised of machining aluminum.
 21. A method ofmaking an adjustable kettlebell handle comprised of casting aluminum andstainless steel.
 22. A method of making an adjustable kettlebell handlefrom composite materials.